Monday, May 11, 2015

The Pastor's Study for June/July FirstWord (Preview!)

Be still, and know that I am God! - Psalm 46:10a

When you visit my study, if you look carefully at the bookshelf, you will see poking out of a book shelf a slice of a pine trunk with these words written upon it, “Be Still and Know”.  It was a gift from a member of my Arizona congregation.


That verse was a constant reminder a friend of mine would recite as she lived with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  Eventually the cancer took her before her time, but she outlived the odds and she was able to watch as I was able to preside over the wedding of both sets of her twin children and baptize her grandchildren. Whenever we would discuss her faith and her circumstance she would calmly recite the need to “Be Still and Know.” It is a simple verse to ponder and it ought to be a simple verse to live.  But sometimes there is a long distance between the things that we ponder and the way that we live. 

How will you live this summer?  Is there space in your schedule to ponder?


When I started my ministry in a community similar to ours, a doctor spoke with me about his family life.  He said, “we work hard and we play hard.”  - I don’t know why but I had never heard the expression before.  Isn’t there a simple delight to play?

Every day I see coaches and athletes playing hard in Libertyville.  We know how to do that.  But do we know how to be still?  Are we afraid of what may meet us in the stillness?  Might we discover ourselves more deeply and find that God is present beside us?

The greatest athletes I have met know how to be still.  The most innovative executives know how to delight and play.  Take this summer and worship the Lord in spirit and truth.  Make time to be still.  Delight in our companionship of faith.

Life is a spiritual adventure!